How we scope and price ISO work
Every Audit Nest engagement is quoted after a short scoping call, as a fixed fee for a defined scope. We don't publish rates because two companies with the same headcount can need very different effort. What we do publish is exactly what drives your number, so you can budget with confidence and compare quotes on equal terms.
What sets your fee
The six factors behind every quote
People in scope
More people means more processes, interviews and records to sample.
What lowers it
Define scope by site or product line, not the whole company.
Sites and shifts
Each site or shift adds travel, sampling and coordination.
What lowers it
Remote document review before any site visit.
Number of standards
Each standard adds clauses to cover.
What lowers it
Integrate. One combined audit of shared clauses (document control, internal audit, management review, corrective action) costs less than two separate ones.
Process risk and complexity
Design control in ISO 13485, special processes in IATF 16949, or software development in ISO 27001 need deeper sampling.
What lowers it
Clear process maps and named process owners.
System maturity
Building from nothing is a different job than closing gaps in a running system.
What lowers it
Share existing documents early so we only build what is missing.
Depth of follow-through
A report alone is one scope. Verifying corrective actions and feeding management review is another.
What lowers it
Choose the level you need now and add follow-through later.
Scenario A
Management system design (QMS, ISMS, EMS)
What you need depends on where you are starting.
Starting point
Nothing documented yet
What we deliver
Scope and context, process map, risk approach, the documents the standard requires, internal audit and management review set up, team briefing.
Relative effort
HighestStarting point
Some documents, certification coming
What we deliver
Gap assessment against the standard, prioritized gap list, fixes to close them, a readiness internal audit.
Relative effort
MediumStarting point
Certified, adding a second standard
What we deliver
Integration plan, shared procedures merged, new clauses added, one integrated internal audit program.
Relative effort
LowerThe shared clauses already exist, so there is less to build.
The most common problem we see is a document set copied from a template that nobody on the floor follows. A management system should describe how your business already works, then close the gaps the standard requires.
Scenario B
The full internal audit cycle
Program design
Which processes, how often, and why, based on risk.
Audit plan
Criteria, sampling and interviews per process.
The audit
On site, remote or hybrid.
Findings report
Written as root causes, each with an owner.
Closing meeting
Leaders leave with a prioritized list.
Verification
We confirm corrective actions worked.
How you can engage us
Pick the model that fits your year
Single audit
Best for: preparing for a certification or surveillance audit.
What changes the fee
scope and number of standards.
Annual program
Best for: meeting the clause 9.2 internal audit requirement each year without tying up your team.
What changes the fee
audit days spread across the year.
Quarterly program
Best for: organizations with recurring findings or fast growth.
What changes the fee
frequency and the processes rotated each quarter.
Internal Audit as a Service
Best for: companies that want the whole function covered, including corrective action follow-up and management review input.
What changes the fee
coverage level, agreed annually.
A real scope, anonymized
A healthcare logistics company preparing for ISO 13485
Its operation is a focused kitting process, so a three-day internal audit program was proportionate. A documentation review before arriving cut time on site. Combining its ISO 27001 and ISO 13485 audits in future years reduces consulting time and certification body audit days.
Next step
How to get your quote
- 1
Book a 30-minute scoping call.
- 2
Send what you have: headcount in scope, sites, standards, certification body, target date and current documents.
- 3
Receive a written proposal with fixed scope, deliverables and dates within 48 hours.
Questions
Pricing questions we hear
No. We quote a fixed fee for a defined scope, so you know the total before work starts.
Yes. It is a 30-minute conversation that ends with a clear view of the scope you need.
Yes. Document review and many interviews work remotely. We recommend on-site time for processes you need to see running.
It can. Ask any provider how many audit days they plan and which processes they will sample. Compare those, not the total.
Get in touch
Contact us
To learn more about our services, connect with us. We work across continents and time zones.
Audit Nest Inc.
Toronto, ON, Canada
Head Office Hours (ET)
Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.